3DS Update Adds 4 New Purchasable Games for StreetPass

A surprise update was loaded onto the eShop servers today and should be rolling out to everyone in the Americas today. If you don’t see your update automatically simply go into the eShop and it will let you know about the update; click yes and your on your way to a whole new StreetPass Plaza.

After the update you’ll be dropped in your new plaza, with all your Mii buddies hanging out in the background. It’s more ornate than the old plaza, with a fountain flowers and other various details. The most obvious addition though is a bunny with a tablet, who wants to sell you some games. Nintendo introduces Salesbunny, who shows these games off to you and offers details about them, as well as connecting you to the store when you are ready to buy. It may seem silly, but it seems like a neat way to inform people who aren’t sure about the games and is a step up presentation wise from just giving you a list.

These four games, previously enjoyed overseas, are now coming to North America. They use the StreetPass function in a way similar to the nifty included RPG FindMii and FindMii2. Each time you pass someone who is also carrying a 3DS you’ll gain access to use their avatar in one of these minigames, each made by a separate developer. Each game costs $4.99, with a bundle currently available the first time you purchase for $14.99, which will net you all games. If you know your math that means you essentially buy 3 and get one free. This offer is only the first time you buy though.

So what exactly are these four games all about? Well Salesbunny can show you on his tablet, but I can share a little on each game here. I’ve used my Play Coins to nab hands on time with each game, till I can get my daily StreetPass. For now here is a description of each game.

Mii Force – Developed by Good-Feel

Brought to you by the same team that made Kirby’s epic yarn is what will probably be the favorite among the four games. You are part of an elite force of Space Police who patrol the StreetPass galaxy and are tasked with defending it against the Gold Bones Gang. A simple but engaging shooter, each person that you StreetPass will net you a pod, one of four used by your ship. 3 of those pods will go in the front and one in the back, with each pod giving you an attack based on the color of your collected friend’s shirts. For instance, my green mercenary (bought with 2 Play Coins) let me use a plasma attack that grappled coins. You play each mission until all your pods are destroyed, then are forced to retreat. As you move through the level you can use the shoulder buttons to rotate the pods around your ship aiming in every direction possible. Upon completion you are awarded a score which will be compared with everyone you StreetPass and you can unlock ranks to be known by to all playing the game.

Flower Town – Developed by Grezzo Inc

Greezo Inc was recently responsible for the Ocarina of Time 3D makeover, and they’ve created a game all about gardening. You’ll be aiming to become a Master Gardener and get there by having StreetPass guests help you with your flower. At the start of the game Mr. Mendel, your gardening instructor, will let you pick one of a few flowers and you’ll begin to grow it. You can use play coins to hire people who you’ve had StreetPass with before, though the selection is random. Each visitor will help you care for your plant by watering it and on occasion their plants will cross pollinate with yours creating whole new breeds. Your favorite flowers once fully bloomed can be placed in your garden and you can take a snapshot of your budding accomplishments. To reach the goal of Master Gardener you’ll have to grow and breed 20 different species of flowers.

Warrior’s Way – Spike Chunsoft

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Next game comes from the developers of the recent Pokemon Mystery Dungeon : Gates to Infinity and the outstanding 999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors. Warrior’s Way is a game about conquering the world, and using your StreetPass friends or hired mercenaries to do so. Each person brings with them a force that you then turn against different warlords. In a 3 round battle, that is essentially Rock/Paper/Scissors, you’ll decide the victor. Unlike Rock/Paper/Scissors though you can still beat someone that chooses the same unit as you do if you have stronger numbers. Spearmen infantry beat calvary, who beat archers, who then in turn beat infantry. At the beginning of the battle you’ll choose what number of your units are which type of soldier. Conquering countries rewards you with building materials and upon return to your castle you can change soldiers into crafstmen to make the castle you choose ever larger. Three castles are available at the outset to choose from, Feudal style, Medieval and Space. Guided by your faithful monocled servant Wentworth, you’ll be taking over the entire world in no time.

Monster Manor – Prope Ltd

A relatively unknown split off group that left Sonic Team to create their own studio, this group is best known for Ivy the Kiwi. Monster Manor is a game where you run a detective agency and are investigating a manor with your sidekick and assistant. There are 30 levels to the manor and to escape it intact you’ll need to reach the top and beat the boss. Every level is composed of a grid with one starting square, while withing the grid somewhere is a invisible stair case. Each StreetPass or hired investigator will let you choose a puzzle piece that is tinted the color of your friend or hired help. When two pieces, which can be all different shapes, are connected they can form a room, while solo pieces form hallways. If two different colors touch it forms a door and you’ll fight a ghost. This is an RPG like fight where you’ll use your blaster to shoot the ghosts and block with a light shield by holding the L button. Each attack or guard drains your battery, so your taxed with defeating enemies before you run out. Doing so will net you experience that goes towards upgrading your blaster, which in turn changes it’s looks.

All four of the games net you tickets to trade in at the Exchange Room. Each of these tickets is worth one of 99 hats you can put on your avatar, with four new hats each day to help balance out the players that get dozens of StreetPass hits a day. I’ve played all four of the games and of them I felt the weakest was Flower Street. It is a nice distraction, but not near as fun as the other ones. Of all of the games I enjoyed the shooter the most, but think that the Monster Manor was a very inventive and fun game. Warrior’s Way seems like a great use of StreetPass as well, there just isn’t much depth there to be had. All in all, I’d say that at least two of the games are very much worth your time. If you only want one though, Mii Force is the win out though. I paid the $14.99 to net all four and can’t wait to get more friends in my plaza to continue my journey in all of them.